the regime is on the defensive. they are fighting in damascus and the suburbs and we are hearing of the scud missiles and it seems this is taking a new turn but we are not sure where it is going. >>shepard: you wonder how much influence, how much a part the outside world can play. nothing has been effective. >>guest: the regime is dug in. they have a lot at stake and they will use everything they have to fight for their survival. it is hard to have influence on the ground with so many different rebel groups fighting against the regime with different rebel groups with different backers with different agendas and extremist element here linked with al qaeda and it is very difficult to actually understand what is going on, on the ground. what the administration is doing now is trying to play a much longer game. they are trying to strengthen the coalition group that was just recognized as the representative of the syrian people and trying to pave the way for post assad. >>shepard: the relationship between egypt and israe